TRUST FOR ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION, CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sea Turtle Conservation

TREE Foundation started its first campaign to conserve and protect the highly endangered Olive Ridley turtles along the East Coast (Neelangarai fishing village to another fishing village – approximately 13 km) by patrolling the beaches during the nesting season from December 29th 2002 onwards. The nesting season extends up to May each year. The youth groups from the above villages are known as Kadal Aamai Padhukavalargall [KAP] (Sea Turtle Protection Force).

The Chief Wild Life Warden Dr Sukdev Singh, The Wild Life Warden Mr. Reddy, the Forest Ranger Mr. Selvarajan and Wildlife Protection Inspector Mr. Maran have all been very supportive and encouraging. The KAP members will soon be issued I.D cards by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

This is the first effort by TREE Foundation involving the local fishing community youth and children for the conservation of the Ridley turtles. To increase the awareness of the people in the fishing community as to why the Sea Turtle needs protection and why all the wealth of the ocean has to be used in a sustaiable way for the long term betterment of their community and how they as individuals and as a community can help, for which environment education programs have been initiated.